Intercalates of Vanadyl Phosphate with Branched Alcohols

Intercalates of VOPO4 with several branched alcohols (2-propanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 4-methyl-1-pentanol, 2-methyl-2-propanol, 2,2-dimethyl-1-propanol, 3,3-dimethylbutanol, 3-methyl-1-pentanol, 2-methyl-1-pentanol, 2-hexanol, 2-ethyl-1-butanol, 2-propyl-1-pentanol) were prepared and characterized by powder X-ray diffractometry and thermogravimetry. Only 2-propanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol were directly intercalated into vanadyl phosphate dihydrate. The other intercalates were prepared by the displacement of 2-propanol. Gas chromatography of the solid intercalates showed that no mixed intercalates still containing the starting alcohol are formed, except the 4-methyl-1-pentanol intercalate. The arrangement of the guest molecules in the interlayer space of the host is discussed. The alcohols are anchored to the host layers by donor-acceptor bonds between their oxygen atoms and the vanadium atoms of the host structure, and by hydrogen bonding.